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In a fascinating look back at the history of the Evanston Fire Department (EFD), Phil Stenholm shared some intriguing details about how the department evolved its emergency medical services over the years.
The EFD has been handling ambulance duties for Evanston since 1976, though firefighters had been attending to "inhalator calls" since 1913. Before 1976, the Evanston Police Department (EPD) managed the ambulance service, using a horse-drawn ambulance as early as the 1890s and later transitioning to an automobile ambulance in 1916. By 1958, the EPD introduced the "Police-Fire Cooperative Plan," training police officers to also act as firefighters. These cross-trained officers patrolled in station wagons—known as Car 31, Car 32, and Car 33—equipped with stretchers, first-aid supplies, fire extinguishers, axes, and firefighting gear. They responded to both emergency medical and fire incidents.
Despite this effort, the EFD saw the potential to take over ambulance services full-time. In the summer of 1974, the Illinois Department of Health lent the EFD an MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Unit) for a 90-day trial. Although the EFD lacked paramedics at the time and the MICU didn't have advanced life support (ALS) equipment, it provided an opportunity to showcase the department's capabilities. Everyone involved was impressed, especially the police officers who preferred not to handle ambulance duties anymore.
Encouraged by these results, the EFD launched its paramedic program at St. Francis Hospital in 1975, aiming to fully integrate paramedic services by 1976. However, Evanston's mayor, Jim Staples, initially wanted to keep ambulance services under the EPD, citing the need for constant availability. Even Mayor Staples reconsidered after Police Chief William McHugh pointed out the growing demands on the police force due to rising crime rates.
The first MICU ambulance, a 1975 Dodge van donated by Washington National Insurance Company, went into service at Station #1 in January 1976. Initially staffed by three firefighters—a senior paramedic, a paramedic trainee, and a driver—it covered the entire city. When an ambulance was dispatched, the on-scene paramedic would assess whether the situation required basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS). If ALS was needed, Ambulance 1 handled it; if BLS, a police ambulance or auxiliary FD vehicle would step in for transport, allowing Ambulance 1 to return to service quickly.
By 1976, the City Council approved a second MICU ambulance, with plans to staff both with two-man paramedic teams. This move eliminated Squad 21 entirely. Unfortunately, in November 1976, Ambulance 1 was severely damaged in a collision while responding to a call. Since Ambulance 2 hadn't yet arrived, the Skokie Fire Department lent an older Cadillac ambulance to Evanston. While it wasn't an MICU, it served as Ambulance 1 until the new Ambulance 2 arrived days later. Evanston eventually purchased the Cadillac and kept it as a backup ambulance.
Ambulance 2 entered service in January 1977, alongside the repaired 1975 Dodge MICU. Both ambulances were ALS-equipped and staffed with two paramedics. Ambulance 2 handled all first-response calls, while Ambulance 1 focused on fire duties and secondary EMS runs when Ambulance 2 was unavailable. Later that year, the Cadillac ambulance became Ambulance 3—a BLS-only unit that was manned only when extra coverage was needed. Advanced life support gear was added to Ambulance 3 in 1978.
By 1980, two new Ford MICU ambulances replaced the aging vehicles. The 1975 Dodge MICU and the Cadillac ambulance were decommissioned, and the older Ambulance 2 became Ambulance 3. At this point, Ambulance 1 and Ambulance 2 were stationed at different firehouses, but within a year, they returned to Station #1. Ambulance 1 covered the eastern half of the city, Ambulance 2 the western half, and Ambulance 3 remained at Station #1 as a reserve.
In 1982, the department implemented a rotation system where Ambulance 1 and Ambulance 2 alternated responses, giving crews a chance to rest between calls. Ambulance 3 stayed at Station #1 and was manned by personnel from Truck Co. 21 when needed.
In 1986, Ambulance 2 moved to Station #4, with Ambulance 1 covering the eastern districts and Ambulance 2 the western ones. Ambulance 3 stayed at Station #1 as a reserve unit. To improve citywide response times, the "jump company" plan was introduced in 1989. Engine companies 21, 22, and 25 became four-man teams with two paramedics each, operating as combined engine-ambulance units. However, this plan failed due to prolonged engine outages, so by the following year, the setup reverted to two-paramedic units at Stations #1 and #2. Engine Companies 23 and 24 resumed normal operations, and Truck Co. 21 moved to Station #3, becoming Truck Co. 23. Ambulance 23 joined them there, available for staffing when needed.
This evolution highlights the EFD's commitment to improving emergency medical services while balancing the needs of fire protection across the city.